Rape of the Fair Country: The Mortymer Trilogy, Book 1

A dazzling new recording of this classic best-seller to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the author's birth, Rape of the Fair Country follows its hero Iestyn Mortimer from boyhood to manhood, through the turbulent times of the Industrial Revolution and the Chartist Revolt against the ironmasters and a government that supported them. It is a story of love, of loss, of battle and of honour, set in the plundered valleys of South Wales. Rape of the Fair Country launched the career of Alexander Cordell and went on to sell millions of copies in seventeen languages throughout the world.

Totally captivating-highly recommended

I found this audio book completely captivating; beautiful and devastating in turns. Above all, I think this book would appeal to anyone who likes a go..Show More »od yarn, but if you also have an interest in historical fiction then this is definitely for you; the story is so well-told that it gave me an introduction to the issues faced by one particular community as well as a broader picture of the struggles of that time. You certainly don't have to be a historian to be drawn in by the story as it's told on such a personal level.

What I loved about the book was the simple but extremely powerful narrative style which Matt Addis captured brilliantly. As with anyone's life, there are moments of sheer joy coupled with the day-to-day 'slog' as well as huge, earth-shattering tragedies. I loved the fact that some of the most poignant episodes in the book are described so perfectly and then simply dismissed; life moves on and the shadow of the event lingers but the characters' lives continue onwards, as the need to survive dictates, without dwelling on the past.

There is a huge cast of characters, all portrayed with their own personalities and quirks. You can't fail to be drawn to Iestyn, but I was captivated by Morfydd and intrigued by the enigmatic Edwina, who perhaps, although a quieter voice in the story, drew me in the most. Hywell, or 'Dada' was beautifully portrayed as the 'rock' of the family and had the most 'rounded' journey in many ways I felt, as he sought to be a moral guide for his family but also struggled with his beliefs and vulnerabilities.

Matt Addis completely captured the mood of the book from the start. The characters all had their own personalities, which is quite a feat with such a cast of supporting roles, and he brought a warm lilt to the narrative; like the style of the book itself, his storytelling was subtle yet powerful.

There are several moments which really hit me; without giving too much away, Iestyn's first fight, some of the very touching scenes in which Dada teaches Iestyn life's lessons, one particular episode at the furnace and Edwina's story. Towards the end of the book the issues become broader and some of the characters are taken further afield from their small community. This is where the beauty of the book really comes through, as the struggle of whole communities and an entire episode in history are cleverly made tangible through the eyes of just one imagined participant, Iestyn Mortymer. Eleven very happy hours of listening!

Hosts of Rebecca: The Mortymer Trilogy, Book Two

The epic story of the Mortymer family continues in this thrilling sequel to The Rape of the Fair Country set around the Rebecca Riots, when economic turmoil and unjust taxes plunge the people of south Wales into dire poverty, putting many on the brink of starvation. A time when young men ride through the night smashing and burning the symbols of their oppression. The Mortymer family have left their home in the iron-making country of Blaenafon, retreating to the old farmlands of the west.